Gameweek Guide

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for Gameweek 31

On Fantasy Football Scout this week, a fab four from Liverpool have been causing a stir as the fixtures turn in favour of the Reds and the soothsayers have been playing Pep Roulette again – could Raheem Sterling (£11.3m) reward those bold enough to spin the wheel?

There’s a Friday deadline for Gameweek 31 and you have until 18:30 BST deadline to make any last-minute changes to your side. 

Mo, Trent, Nat and Diego

Top of the fixture ticker for the remainder of the season, Liverpool first take on an Aston Villa side shorn of their talisman Jack Grealish (£7.5m). Dean Smith confirmed that his latest injury flare-up “will probably put him back a couple of weeks”.

Mohamed Salah (£12.4m), Diogo Jota (£6.9m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.3m) are all selected in the Scout Picks‘ starting XI, while Nat Phillips (£4.0m) is Tom’s headline differential

Encouragingly for their backers, Villa have been struggling defensively.

As Captain Sensible writer Jan mentioned, they are the biggest over-performers in the Premier League and should have conceded at least three more goals over their last four matches.

And if we cast our net a little further back to Gameweek 21, no team has conceded more shots than Dean Smith’s side since then.

Jan and the Scout Picks selectors have handed Salah the armband for Saturday’s enticing encounter.

Golden Boot race motivation and penalty duties ensure Salah just edges out Jota in Jan’s estimation, while Pro Pundit Lateriser commented:

Salah has now scored in back-to-back matches and I’ve seen him play further forward in the last two games than he has for most of this season.

Meanwhile Jota was described by Az as “the number one target on the Wildcard”, which many are playing this week.

Such confidence is underpinned by an impressive 50 per cent goal involvement this season when he’s been on the pitch, as highlighted by both Jan and Lateriser, as well as Karam on the Scoutcast.

And although rotation remains a risk, there is comfort in the knowledge that the Portuguese has found the net in three of his six cameos off the bench and bagged a brace at Arsenal last weekend, as Neale pointed out when he delved into the stats ahead of Gameweek 31.

Both players seem excellent choices for our FPL teams but, as Seb advised us, captaincy is important when it comes to selecting Salah:

I do not plan on handing the Egyptian the armband and thus his value is seriously diminished. Salah is only worth his price if you plan on doubling those points.

– Seb

Otherwise the main decision when deciding on the ideal Liverpool trio appears to come down to a decision between Alexander-Arnold and budget defender Phillips.

The enterprising full-back costs £3.3 million more than his central defensive colleague – is he worth the extra outlay?

Last four matches

Over the last four matches, only two players have created more chances than the Liverpool full-back, namely Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£11.9m), who both cost considerably more. 

As Seb mentioned on the Scoutcast, Trent has been accelerating away from his fellow full-back Andy Robertson (£7.1m) in terms of underlying stats since Gameweek 24. And the Scot has created just three chances in his last four compared to the Englishman’s 11.

Defensively the signs are also positive. The return of Fabinho (£5.4m) to midfield makes a big difference to Liverpool’s prospects of recording a clean sheet.

Jürgen Klopp’s side badly missed the Brazilian as a number six, and look a far better side with him sitting in front of the back four.

– Tom

In the end the decision will likely come down to the needs of your FPL team. 

Phillips costs just £4.0m, and as one of the cheapest starting defenders in the game, could be a quality enabler for the remainder of the season.

– Tom

While Seb countered:

If I was on a Wildcard, I’d have definitely gone for the Liverpool right-back over the cut-price Phillips as I don’t like looking for value from the best teams with the best fixtures.

Planning Ahead

Digressing away from Liverpool for a moment, Leeds fan Seb backed up recent Meet the Manager interviewee Tom Stephenson’s plan to ‘save a transfer’ by including Raphinha (£5.6m) on his Wildcard.

If you can afford to keep [Raphinha] on the bench I think he provides a great sub and saves you a transfer for when you want him back for those aforementioned fixtures.

– Seb

Maverick Joe

According to Andy, “only an idiot would continue to try and second-guess Pep Guardiola” – and yet, here we are again. 

Speaking after the win over Leicester City on Sunday, Pep Guardiola promised that there’d be “fresh legs, more than ever” for the upcoming clash with Leeds.

Given that neither Sterling nor Gabriel Jesus (£9.2m) started the midweek Champions League quarter-final, they are tipped to make the first XI in what should be an open game against Leeds United. As Neale reminded us:

17 penalty box touches, five goal attempts and five key passes recorded by Raheem Sterling when Manchester City and Leeds United met in the very open reverse fixture of Saturday’s game.

– Neale

It’s even tempted Joe to consider an uncharacteristic one-week punt on the Brazilian, despite Seb’s warning that he’s a trap.

Joe’s plan on his Wildcard would be to switch out Jesus to Jamie Vardy (£10.1m), who is at a similar price point. 

Leicester City

James Maddison’s (£7.1m) return from injury could be good news for our FPL teams, although his price point is considered awkward by Joe.

Nonetheless both Az and Tom have been singing his praises, having picked up on an intriguing quote from the Leicester City midfielder:

Me, the gaffer and Jack, the analyst, sat down and looked at where I can get more goals. Playing a bit deeper, I was a No.8 today, and breaking into the box and getting beyond that last line and really, kind of, almost smelling where the ball is going to drop. It’s not an easy thing to do. Frank Lampard was the best at it, arriving late and scoring goals, and that’s what I did today.

– James Maddison

Tom went on to add that:

Personal motivation could be a key factor, too. If Maddison is to force his way into Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the European Championship this summer, he will need to play a starring role during the run-in.

– Tom

Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.8m) was lauded for his clinical finishing on the Scoutcast and offers an excellent mid-price alternative up front.

There are concerns that he could drop out of the side for Maddison, having been replaced the Englishman against Manchester City. But, as Karam explained, Iheanacho played for Nigeria during the international break and only returned 48 hours before kick-off. 

For the time being, Neale has predicted that Iheanacho will start against West Ham with Maddison set for another appearance from the subs bench.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

RedLightning provided us with his usual comprehensive round-up of the latest Community mini-leagues and competitions, which included a new section on a Community Manager of the Week. 

The inaugural winner was Kushral Pakhrel (aka Fantasizer), nominated by FPL Egregious for his impressive tally of 92 points scored in Blank Gameweek 29.

Kushral’s deft use of his Free Hit chip was underpinned by three Brighton players, who contributed 44 points to his total and helped him to a Gameweek rank of 620.

There are five rounds to go in our cup competitions with the finals set to take place in Gameweek 35.

This Gameweek, round six of the FFS Open Cup sees the lowest-ranked manager left in the competition, ronaldez, face Community regular Jarvish, who is aiming for his second top 10,000 finish in the last three seasons.

While Psyurmh, ranked 615,244 takes on 2018/19 FFS Members Cup runner-up Jambo17.

And in this year’s Members Cup, Torpedo will be hoping to overcome the odds when he comes up against FPLMAD, who is currently 1,876,860 places above him in the overall standings.

Neale reviewed the results from the previous rounds yesterday.

Finally, the Head-to-Head fixtures for Gameweek 31 can be found below. 

The scores and tables update every night on the Head-to-Head Leagues main page so you can keep track of the action as the Gameweek unfolds. 

May your arrows be green!


TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

909 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Nespinha
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Any help appreciated:

    Leno,
    Kabak, Coady, Rudiger
    Salah, Bruno, Mount, Neto, Jota
    Kane, Vardy

    subs: forster, holding, fofana, davis

    1. XX SMICER XX
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Phillips over Kabak, saves £1M

      1. Big Al Stankovic
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        This

  2. The_FF_King
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Should I do
    Raph to Salah
    DCL to Nacho
    For -4?

  3. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on this WC?

    Mendy
    TAA. Rudiger. Alonso
    Salah(C). Bruno. Lingard. Jota
    Kane. DCL. Iheanacho.
    (Forster, Raph, Holding, Fofana)

    1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Too much CHE def imo

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        What would you change? Go Shaw?

        1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Hi Mate, I assume Alonso is a 2 x GW punt ?? and for info, Shaw went off at half time in the Europe game, not sure why ?

          1. Gazwaz80
            • 4 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            He had a knock...

          2. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            See next page mate. What you reckon? Thanks

        2. CloudSky
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Schmeichel.

        3. Gazwaz80
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Shaw is flagged...

    2. nolard
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Lose Alonso. Not nailed enough.

    3. nolard
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Also Nachos, I am not sure about him and if he can continue.

    4. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Love it RAF but one too many Chelsea defence

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        See next page MS. Think I’m close to a team I can also BB next week! Please help!!!! 🙂

    5. Ashleyajolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Get a wolves defender for one of the Chelsea defenders, Saiss best points per match for them.

  4. Jones Kusi
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best option??
    A. Coufal, Shaw, Rudiger
    B. Coufal, Shaw, Coady (Got Mendy)
    C. Fofana, Rudiger, Coady

  5. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Maddison or Mount?

    1. XX SMICER XX
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Mount

  6. Igz08
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    A) Coady vs Saiss
    B) Start Rudiger or Coady/Saiss

    1. Alisson WondHaaland
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A) Coady but prefer Fofana
      B) Rud

      1. Igz08
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I got Perreira already

  7. GCM0803
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Play Martinez or Forster?

    1. Igz08
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Forster for me

      1. XX SMICER XX
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Agreed

  8. HD7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Masuaku or Diop for the last place on my bench?

    If Masuaku is back and starter, he has a bigger chance of attacking points?

    1. XX SMICER XX
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Mas

  9. McPollolocco
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    My team: don't be surprised e.g. about Ings or Bamford, play in a mini-league and can't take every player
    Martinez
    Digne, Rüdiger, Cancelo, TAA
    Maddison, Salah, Neto, Mahrez
    Ings, Kane
    Bench: Forster, Bamford, Pereira (WBA), Coufal
    Thoughts? Have some questions?
    a) Mahrez to Rodriguez
    b) Who captain?
    c) Who should i bench?

  10. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start Fofana or Coady?

    1. XX SMICER XX
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Tight one. Probably Coady

    2. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Fofana

    3. Big Al Stankovic
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Coady

  11. XX SMICER XX
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Quick one:
    A. Coady
    B. Saiss

    1. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      coin toss really

    2. nolard
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Saiss, for the goal threat.

      1. funnyoldgame
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Coady is actually more of a goal threat according to stats of last 6 games.

        1. nolard
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Maybe so - but Saiss has been the one getting the goals earlier in the season.

      2. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Saiss if you want someone who gets a YC every week.

        1. nolard
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Ha! Then there is this ofc...

    3. XX SMICER XX
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Is Coady more nailed?

  12. Legohair
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Saka to Neto worth to take hit?

    1. XX SMICER XX
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No

  13. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start one?

    A. Shaw (tot)
    B. Digne (bha)

    1. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

    2. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Digne

    3. XX SMICER XX
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

  14. Simmich
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Laporte to play both gw31 and gw32?

  15. JenkoJunko
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start two..
    A. Raph
    B. Wellbeck
    C. Johnstone
    D. Martinez

    Captain..
    1. KDB
    2. Kane
    3. Jota
    4. Bruno

  16. G00LI0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Whose with me on the KDB(c) gamble?

    1. Andre_The_Giant
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'm about to transfer him out. Reckon he'll be benched

    2. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Currently my captain but debating whether to change!

    3. G00LI0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      KDB cap locked. And fingers crossed!

      Hoping Pep plays him to keep his rhythm. Then rests him midweek to have him fresh for the cup final.

      1. G00LI0
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Or semi final even

  17. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    A Schmeichel or B Leno as main keeper alongside Forster

    1. Dwotle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

  18. Orion
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Worth doing Auba&Antonio to Saka&Vardy for a hit? Yes or no?

    1. Dwotle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No if you can afford to bench Antonio. Auba will likely start and could haul against a terrible D.

  19. Andre_The_Giant
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    One more call to the masses..

    A) Salah & Phillips

    B) Jota & TAA

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jota and Phillips and spread the wealth

    2. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Any way of getting Salah, Jota and TAA? I've gone for those three and sacrificed elsehwere.

      Otherwise, this is a tough one but would maybe go B.

      1. Andre_The_Giant
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Not on a WC unfortunately

        1. PascalCygan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Ah, OK. Maybe B then.

    3. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A. then get Jota next week

  20. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who's everyone captaining then?

    Toss-up for me between Sterling and Salah.

    1. Big Al Stankovic
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Raz

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Nice, could be fun!

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Gundogan or Mount.

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Interesting, like it!

    3. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Salah

  21. Nespinha
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pick A or B:

    A) Kabak, Mount, Neto, Vardy

    B) TAA, Son, Saka, Iheanacho

    1. HNI
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B surelym Can advice me below mate?

  22. Chrisitis
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Corret bench order?
    1. Coufal
    2. Bamford

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bamford first

    2. HNI
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      1 2 . can advice me below mate?

  23. HNI
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is it madness to consider Perriera vs SOU over Son vs MUN on WC with exact money to get Son back for next gw? Or gives option to replace lingard too

    1. Chrisitis
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      If no WC - big no
      You lose one transfer

      1. HNI
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Then play Son or Vydra vs Newc? Above is actually on wc lol

        1. HNI
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          As cant decide who keep between Perreira vs Lingard

    2. Croaker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Not mad. I can see Son doing nothing against MU

    3. Nespinha
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      nope. you can do that sounds good

    4. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'm playing Son, fwiw. I'd play him against City too, if that were the scenario. Undumpable if fit, imo.

    5. Rabb05
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'm playing periera over nacho this week. Think he might do well against the saints

  24. Drexl Spivey
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bamford & Antonio > Wood & Iheanacho (-4)?

    1. HNI
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes if you have plan to do something with extra funds left. Can advice me above bro?

  25. nadman89
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    play raphinha or watkins , weird one

    1. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Watkins

  26. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Hi....am I good to go with this wildcard please?

    Plan is sterling to Bruno gw32. Thanks

    Mendy forster
    Taa alonso holding (fofana shaw)
    Salah Sterling (c) son jota lingard
    Kane iheanacho (davis)

    1. nolard
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Looks good. I would not have Alonso, but that's just me.
      Nacho with no third forward is also a worry.
      Now there is quite a lot of cash on your bench at the back.

      1. funnyoldgame
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Agree. Alonso to Rudiger. Davis to Vydra

        1. Flynny
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Thanks. I'm going for alonso - feels worth a punt - but totally take your point.

          I'm at 200k so all or nothing. Good luck

          1. Flynny
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            I can actually do fofana to dawson

            Which gives me cash for vydra

            Thanks!

  27. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bench one

    DCL
    Son
    Saka
    Havertz

  28. Heisenberg W. W.
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pick one on WC

    1.Vardy+Philips
    2. TAA + Iheanacho

  29. HD7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy, Forster
    Philips, 5M, Rudiger, Masuaku, Holding
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Jota, Neto
    Kane, Vardy, Davis

    Best 5M defender needed, mates?

  30. Reeker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Accidently brought in Robertson instead of TAA because I wasn't thinking right

    1. HNI
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Good choice regardless